USA. A top-class agenda and speaker line-up has been finalised for the retail sessions at Seatrade Cruise Global, the premier annual gathering of the cruise industry worldwide.
Seatrade organisers are again partnering with The Moodie Davitt Report to host a programme dedicated to retailing at sea at its 2026 event in Miami.
The event runs from 13-16 April at The Miami Beach Convention Center with the retail sessions taking place at the same venue on 14 and 15 April. These run from 2-4pm on 14 April in the Lincoln Road GH room, followed by a networking drinks reception. The sessions then recommence at 10am on 15 April at the same location, running through to 12 noon.
A trend watch study compiled by Seatrade – with input from the industry – will lead off the sessions on the afternoon of 14 April. This will be presented by The Moodie Davitt Report President Dermot Davitt, who is event moderator.
This will be followed by a discussion of the latest consumer trends featuring Starboard VP & General Manager for Royal Caribbean Claudia King-McWilliams, Harding CEO Chris Matthews alongside Global Ports Holding VP Retail & Ancillary Revenue Andres Villalever.
How cruise stakeholders can elevate the role of retail as part of the onboard experience will be discussed by a panel that includes Effy Jewelry Executive Vice President Jennifer Patience, Norwegian Cruise Line VP Onboard Revenue Craig Steyn, Avolta SVP Caribbean & Cruise Gian Botteri and Heinemann Americas Managing Director Nicolas Hoeborn.
Cruiseline onboard revenue leaders will discuss the vision, planning and execution pipeline for their portfolios in 2026 and beyond, and how these will feed into opportunity for concessionaire and brand partners in terms of space, offer and experience. This session will include MSC Cruises SVP Onboard Revenue Georg Schmickler and Azamara Cruises Head of Onboard Revenue Claudio Sammartano.
Assessing what great partnerships in cruise retail look like will be a session featuring guests from leading concessionaires who are joined by brand owner partners to present three case studies.
Starboard Group Director of Merchandising Karla Nedeski and Essence Corp Area Sales Director Yennifer Abreu will speak about the execution of beauty onboard; Harding+ Retail Director Jeff Dunaway will address the premium spirits opportunity alongside Diageo Global Account Manager Cruise Amy Del Gatto; and Avolta Commercial Director Caribbean & Cruises Priscila Gonzalez and LePrix Executive Vice President Business Development Laura Swan will jointly assess the growing pre-loved fashion category.
The event will close with guest speaker, leadership mentor and AI advisor Tarja Stephens on the topic of AI and its place in the future of cruise retail.
Platinum Partners for the 2026 retail sessions are Starboard Group, Harding+, Effy Jewelry and Avolta. Other partners include Any Di Munich and Keywest Sterling Silver Company.
Registration for the retail sessions is open via a promotional code at this link.
Once on the registration portal, select VIP, Conference, Expo, enter your details, use the promotional code MDR2026 and select The Retail Days on the Special Events section on Step 4. This is priced at US$349 until 12 April and US$449 on-site.
Seatrade Cruise Global attracts over 11,000 guests each year, including over 75 cruise lines. In 2024 and 2025 The Moodie Davitt Report hosted multiple sessions of retail-related programming that was well supported by the industry community across cruiselines, concessionaires and brand owners. 🛳️
